SPY PICS: Holden's new babies?

GM Europe’s redesigned Astra and Corsa hatchbacks have surfaced in spy shots for the first time, providing our first look at two new small cars that could join the Holden range in coming years.

GM Holden today confirmed it will relaunch the discontinued Opel Astra OPC as the Holden Astra VXR by mid-2015, along with the Astra GTC and Insignia VXR.

However, mainstream versions of the next-generation Astra could also be introduced into Holden showrooms, positioned above the Australian-made Cruze (which is priced from $19,490) as a direct rival for European small cars like the Volkswagen Golf (from $21,490).

Similarly, while the existing Corsa OPC is conspicuous by its absence from Holden’s announcement today, Opel’s next Corsa could be sold here alongside the Korean-sourced Barina, the smaller Spark version of which is also due for renewal.

The new Astra is not expected to go on sale in Europe until 2016, despite the fact its development is well advanced, as these spy images attest.

It will be based on the same D2XX platform as the next-generation Cruze, which has already been revealed in China, although Australia’s Adelaide model is expected to receive a similar facelift to the US next year, before continuing in production until 2017.

Look beyond the camouflage of this five-door test mule and it’s clear the next Astra will have a more angular shape with narrower headlights than before, as previewed by the Opel Monza concept.

As with the current Astra J launched in 2009, the coupe derivative of the new Astra K will be sleeker and the wagon version longer, and it will also eventually spawn a convertible in the form of a replacement for the Cascada, which will also arrive in Holden showrooms next year.

Apart from the Mk7 Golf, the Astra is designed to compete with accomplished European-designed small cars like the Ford Focus and upcoming Peugeot 308, and should be powered by a range of four-cylinder turbo petrol and diesel engines.

European reports insist the next Astra will shed up to 100kg following an intensive weight-saving program that should bring more efficiency and performance.

The Corsa, meantime, also appears to be in for a major model redesign, eight years after the existing Corsa D emerged in 2006 on a platform co-developed with Fiat for its previous Punto.

Word from Europe is the same platform will be carried over, wrapped in a sleeker set of sheetmetal to make the Corsa more competitive with contemporary light cars like the Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta and the upcoming Hyundai i20 and Mazda2.

Apart from an all-new look inspired by the pint-size Opel Adam, the next Corsa will come with all-new engines, including a 1.0-litre SIDI Turbo triple in two stages of tune (67kW and 85kW), which has already been announced for the Adam.

As with the new Astra, the next Corsa will also bring a completely redesigned interior with a cleaner layout and higher-quality materials.